German - carry on regardless

Dear Editor,
Once more we see the German language under threat in Namibia. I can well understand the reasons why it is so worrying for the German community in Namibia. As I have said before, "it is the language and culture that makes a nation, and not the bloodline". This has never been a problem in South Africa, although the first settlers arriving here in 1820, have long ago integrated into the South African community of to-day.
Strangely enough like at towns like Mamre the German missionary have also long ago moved out and on, but what they left behind still continues to this day, namely the German culture. The Germans who arrived here in South Africa, especially after World War II, onwards have retained their language and culture, the children either attending the International German Private Schools, or others due the lack of finance by their parents or guardians attend either English or Afrikaans school classes, under the government department of education, but still German as home language, and will more than likely marry a German speaking partner, where the language and culture line will continue thereafter.
These Germans in South Africa keep up the tradition like many other different nationalities by way of the various clubs that are available, where festivities, concerts and other traditions continue. The Germans in Namibia since 1884 have developed their own tradition in Namibia, retaining some of the Germany festivities like the "Oktoberfest", which is not only celebrated in their country, but also in South Africa and other parts of the world where German speaking communities are to be found. One may call the German community in Namibia a "diaspora", like many other nationalities that have settled in other parts of the world , including the White Afrikaner settlement in Argentina from 1902 onwards, where to-day the 40-50 year olds still speak the language, although their children have integrated into the Argentinian community, speaking Spanish as first language and English as second.
Argentina is actually very interesting in this regard, that although Spanish is the first language of the country, 73,4% of the population are from Italian descent. A large Venetian Italian "diaspora" is to be found in Mexico, where they still speak the dialect of the times in Venice at home, while at school the children learn Spanish.
To my mind not all is lost. As long as the language and culture is passed on from generation to generation, German will never die. The greatest threat is marrying into other nationalities and cultures that are non-German speaking. That is why we see the question being asked in employment applications, "What is your home language" or "What is your mother tongue". In my personal experience in the years I spent in Namibia, I have always found that the German speakers are fluent in their mother tongue as well as in English and Afrikaans, whereas the last two mentioned only wish to speak in most cases their own language, or are not non-competent in speaking the opposite language and in fact have no real interest in German.
Either way to retain your German language and culture, I would carry on regardless. German will never die out in other parts of the world, particularly in Germany, as there are more than enough speakers to carry on the culture and traditions.

Andre Martinaglia, Kapstadt